1) Do you consider the time saved by multitasking behind the wheel vital to your carrer or livelihood?

no, driving my car is enough multitasking as is. h:

2) In your opinion, is your ability to drive safely hampered by talking on the phone? Explain.

depends, not so much on the highway or down a straight road without lights. I have to shift which complicates things otherwise. I try to avoid it when I can and keep the conversation very short. I'll just stop talking to the person and put the phone down for a second if I have to do something. People who don't are idiots, people are poor enough drivers as is.

3) Have you ever had a "near-hit" (or an accident) while driving and using your cellphone? If so, did you consider the cell-phone to be a contributory factor?

no

4) What is your impression of the media's response to the issue of distracted driving?
Is the risk blown out of proportion?

Calling attention to it is good. Personally I think the media blows a lot of things out of proportion because they never have enough shit to put on the air, I guess you could call this one of them.

5) Are the current laws regulating the use of cell phones behind the wheel too strict, or is further legal action needed?

not very strict, I think you should be given pulled over and given a fine for doing it.